Focus on Senate topics, not drama

Emotions are running high in the Democratic race to fill the vacancy to be created by the retirement of U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka. The nominee will face former Republican Gov. Linda Lingle — and with the winner likely to represent Hawaii in the Senate for years to come, the personal confrontations must make way for specific political game plans.

The Mazie Hirono-Ed Case matchup in this Democratic primary is similar to the gubernatorial contest a decade ago; then, Hirono beat Case but lost to Lingle in the general election. The personal undercurrents this time around have grown more complex — but the candidates would do well to set those aside and concentrate on the substantive issues at hand.

That’s what the Democartic Party itself did this past weekend, when members at its state convention refined and clarified positions on several hot-button topics. In doing so, they have righted some troublesome listing on issues important to the party faithful, including refining the rules under which potential candidates can seek office as a Democrat, and opposing any legislative action to exempt public or private construction from environmental review.

Such clarity goes a long way toward reaffirming platform issues important to the party’s core, while also showing that being inclusive — not exclusive — is a valued hallmark. Tackling the controversial environmental issue also resets a high bar for safeguarding natural resources and public engagement.

With the Aug. 11 primary election not far off, voters now deserve the same directness on a range of congressional issues from each of the three Senate candidates — Hirono, Case and Lingle. We need to hear their specific political views and how they would fit in a Senate that is stalled too often by Republican filibusters, and could happen in the same fashion if the GOP gains control. Voters must be allowed to see the candidates in head-on live debates, not just canned advertising messages.

A half-dozen years ago, anger rose within the Democratic Party when Case had the audacity to leave the U.S. House in 2006 to challenge Akaka, and the party’s base rejected the move. Hirono was elected to the House seat vacated by Case; now, the two are vying for Akaka’s seat. U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, who detested Case’s move in 2006, supports Hirono, an unusual move by a party leader of any state in a primary election.

A frustrated Case is itching to debate Hirono, and on Saturday urged Democrats to see beyond identity politics. The next day, Hirono took an affront, telling convention delegates that her life experiences — which consisted of hardship and strength coming from her mother, who fled an abusive husband in Japan to raise Hirono and her brother "paycheck to paycheck" — are the stuff of core Democratic values. Personal histories are important in the shaping of politicians, but they should not be all-defining or a dodge from the issues.

Hirono is ranked the sixth-most liberal among the 435 House members. When Case was in the U.S. House, he belonged to the Blue Dog Coalition, a Democratic caucus composed of moderates who are relatively conservative on fiscal issues. Lingle brands herself as a moderate Republican who says she would function as Inouye’s partner in the Senate, which makes Inouye cringe.

On one issue, Hirono cast her vote in favor of health care reform, while Case favors "addition of tort reform and other cost controls." On another, both candidates call for reforming the No Child Left Behind law. We need more on how they stand — similarly or differently — on these topics and others vital to Hawaii, such as military buildup and basing; job creation; reducing reliance on foreign oil; student loan debt; and earmarking funds for ventures like the East-West Center.

Democrats should refer to the candidates’ websites — www.mazieforhawaii.com and www.edcase.com — before filling out their August ballots. But certainly, having the candidates face each other to defend their positions and define their differences can only help voters make an informed choice.